Suction cleaner



SUCTION CLEANER Filed April 26, 1943 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 r .1. m M rrv N I. 5 Im I a w 4 m a m w I I w -MI.| A a w? 2 97% fi.$. 1 .9 Z m P 1946- p. G.YSMELLIE 2,406,915

SUCTION CLEANER Filed April 26, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. florzald 6. Smellz'e A TTOR/VEY Sept. 3, 1946. D. G. SMELLIE SUCTION CLEANER Fil ec i April 26, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet- 3 mi m , mmvron .Dorzald 6. 87nellz'e 16 V ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 3, 1946 SUCTION CLEANER Donald G. Smellie, Canton, Ohio, a'ssignorlto-The' Hoover Company, North Canton, h'io,.a' corporation of Ohio Application April 26, 1943;-Seria! ND. 484;515

(Cl; li -16) 7 Claims. l

The :present invention relates'to suction cleanerscin general and more particularlyto new and novelarrangement of parts in a suction cleaner. More-specifically, the invention comprises an improved type of suction cleaner in which the dirtladen air'stream is drawnjby the suction-creating means of the cleaner through aninitial dirt separator andis exhausted by'the suction-creatingmeans into a' final dirt-separator, means being provided to clean thesfinaldirt-separator comprising a continuously operated cleaningnozzle which is supplied with a maximumfiow of-cleanihg' air each time the seal of the main cleaning nozzle is broken.

The instant application discloses .certain' features in common with theIco-filed'and co-pencling applications, Serial Nos; 484,510 and 484,514, filed in the names "ofLouis "K1 Acheson present inventor; respectively; and? both assigned to the assignee of the -presentapplication; The

present inventionds Viewed in" the nature of an improvement upon the: inventions disclosed in those applications and common subject matter is' to be protected therein. InSerialNo. 484,510

the general arrangement of the cleaner and the filter-cleaning nozzle mounting, connection and driving means willbe cl'air'ned} InSrial No. 484,514 the continuously." driven filter-cleaning nozzle will be claimed as "will'th'e broad aspects of the pressure-controlled valve structure; the present application being. directed to the improved air-flow controlling features of the valve and the it mechanism which cooperates therewith.

It is an object ofthe present invention to provide a new and" improved suctioncleaner. It is' another object of' the inventiontoprovide a new and improved suction cleaner of the typeincor porating an initial dirt separator'and a final dirt separator. Astill further object of the invention is to provide a suction cleaner having a plurality of dirt separators; the'final dirt'separator being provided with acontinuously actuated cleaning nozzle which is provided the initial separator whenever'theseal of the main nozzle of the cleaner is broken.

suction cleaner of the multiple-' dirt separator type which incorporates meansto prevent inrushes of unde'sirable non-working cleaning air Theseand'other more and the with" a maximum now of cleaning air to-convey the foreign material to A still further object of the? invention is to provide a"- I ent invention;

through the speed-reducing mechanism connecting the filter-cleaningnozzle 5t0-the main motor shaft; bcingrasection takenupon the lines 4-41 of Figuresland 6;

Figure-5 is a section-upon the line5-5 of Figure 4;

Figured is an enlarged partial vertical section through the suction-creating-fan unit and speedreducing' mechanism, 6--6ofFigure'4:

The present invention comprises an improve ment relatingeto' the basic in-vention disclosed in the-patent toBible 2,247,472 in which a suction cleaner is" disclosed-"Which comprises an initial dirt separator; suction-creating meansto draw air from "a cleaning nozzleinto thein-i-tial separator andv to remove it-thereirom, and a final dirt-sepa. rator whicnreceivesair from the suction-creating means for the purpose of'rem'oving any -escaped foreign" material from the air stream which has escaped fromthe initia-l separator. Mr. Bible teaches the use of a filter-cleaning nozzle which is adapted toremove'foreign material from thefinal filter and to returhit directly to the initial filter where it is, upon the second passage 'there through, removed completely. In the Bible patent construction in order tooperate the filter-cleaning nozzle it is necessaryto disconnect the main cleaning nozzle an'd to attach the dusting tool hose to the: connection leadingtothe filter-clean ing' nozzle.- The'operation'is manual and is'ac complished at the election of the operator.

In the suction'cleaner construction in accordance-with the present'inv'ention," means are provided which clean the final filter'at all times and beingtaken upon the line predetermined point, the air moving power of the cleaner suction is directed from the main cleaning nozzle and is transferred to the continuously actuated filter-cleaning nozzle. A speed-reducing mechanism connects the filter-cleaning nozzle with the main driving shaft of the cleaner motor so that the speed of movement of the filter-cleaning nozzle over the final dirt separator or filter is relatively slow. This invention has the desirable result not only of keeping the final filter clean but also of preventing the inrush of a large volume of air into the cleaner and through the final filter each time the main cleaner nozzle is lifted from the surface covering. Such rushes of air accomplish no useful function and have the undesirable characteristic of driving foreign material into the interstices of the final filter thereby increasing the back pressure of that element and making the cleaning thereof more difficult.

Referring again to the drawings the invention is seen to comprise a cylindrical main casing l which seats, at its centrally apertured and flanged bottom plate 2, upon a supporting base 3 which seats a removable dirt pan or container 4, the upper peripheral edges of which are in sealed contact with the bottom plate 2. The upper end of the cylindrical casing i is closed by a motor hood 6 which includes an inwardly flanged motorsupporting wall I. Y

Positioned concentrically within the main casing l is a smaller cylindrical casing 9 which is carried by the inner flanged peripheral edge of the bottom plate 2 of the casing I. A transverse closure wall II divides the cylindrical casing 9 into a lower whirl chamber l2 and upper fan chamber l3, the latter being itself divided into a lower stage and an upper stage by a centrally positioned deflector l4. Deflector M is formed with a multiplicity of fixed guide vanes which function to direct the air to the central inlet formed therein and which is indicated a [6. The top of the fan chamber 13 is closed by cover plate ll of the cylindrical casing 9 while the bottom of the fan chamber is provided with a downwardly extending elongated inlet l8 which reaches downwardly beyond the mid-portion of the whirl chamber i2. Vertically spaced spiders [9 within inlet i8 support a downwardly extending rod carrying a transverse pan-closing plate end and a strainer 22 immediately below the lower spider i9. Plate 2| is spaced inwardly from the wall of casing 9 and provides a peripheral opening through which the foreign material can drop from the whirl chamber into the dirt pan 4 while the strainer 22 prevents the passage upwardly into the suction-creating fan chamber l3 of large size foreign objects.

The inlet of the cleaner comprises a' port 23 which is adapted to receive and seat the cleaner end of a dusting tool hose 5 which at its outer end carrie a suitable cleaning nozzle Ill. Inlet 23 passes inwardly through the outer cylindrical casing I and connects directly to an inlet chamber 24 which opens tangentially intothe whirl chamber iii. The construction is such that air entering through the inlet 23 and chamber 24 enters the whirl chamber tangentially resulting in a circular rotary movement of the air which tends to throw the foreign material outwardly and permits it to drop downwardly and into the dirt pan 4.

Within the suction-creating fan chamber I3 is positioned a two-stage fan comprising a lower rotary fan 26 and an upper fan 21, both carried by the downwardly depending shaft 28 of a motor 29 which is carried by the wall 1 and is positioned 2! at its lower partially within the motor hood 6 and partially within the upper end of casing I. The rotation of the motor shaft 28 causes the tandem fan 26 and 21 to draw cleaning air in through the inlet port 23 and to remove the cleaned air upwardly through the inlet l8 into the fan chamber from which it is exhausted through suitable ports 35 into a, surrounding chamber which is indicated at 3! and which will be called the final filter chamber for a reason which will become apparent. Defining the side wall of the final filter chamber iii and spaced inwardly from th enclosing main casing l is a cylindrical filter element 32 formed of suitable air-permeable dirt-impermeable material such as filter cloth. Filter 32 is supported at it lower end by a flanged collar 33 fixedly carried by the casing 9. At its upper end filter 32 is carried by a shouldered portion of a centrally apertured and flanged plate 34 which seats in sealing relationship upon the lower end of the casing of motor 29 and which is itself fixed in spaced relationship to the enclosing main casing l by means of spiders 3% which may be integrally formed. Collar 33 and upper plate 34 form end enclosures i or the filter chamber 3| and air escaping therefrom must pass outwardly through the filter element 32 into that space between the filter and the main casing l which space is indicated by the reference character 31 and which will be referred to as the discharge chamber.

Discharge chamber 31 is closed at its upper end by th plate 1 and at its lower end by the bottom plate 2 of casing l and the only escape therefrom is afforded by the apertures 38 formed in the casing of motor 29 upon the opposite sides of the supporting wall I in the hood 8. Air entering the lower apertures 38 passes upwardly through the motor casing and escapes from the upper apertures and effects a cooling of the motor in doing so which is desirable. The motor hood 6 above the plate I is provided with an exhaust port 39 adapted to receive and seat a dusting tool unit when it is desired to use the cleaner as a blowing unit and serves at all times as the cleaner exhaust port. Incidentally, the driving motor 29 is provided with incoming power leads M which are connected to a suitable manually operable switch $2 to enable the operator to control the operation of the motor and so of the entire cleaner.

The machine which has hereinbefore been described comprises a completely operative cleaner, but one which has the inherent defect that no means have been provided to clean the filter 32. To accomplish this desirable result there is provided, in accordance with applicant's invention. an elongated nozzle 46 the length of which is equal to the height of the filter element 32 and which is adapted to mak sliding contact therewith. Nozzle 46 has a filter-contacting opening or month which contacts only a limited area of the filter element 32 in any one position and accordingly means are provided to move the nozzle relative to the filter. This is accomplished by supporting nozzle 46 by a rotatable conduit seat 61 which encloses the vertical sleeve ie housing the motor shaft 28. Conduit 41 is formed at its inner end with a downwardly facing circular seat which is rotatably mounted upon a supporting bearing 5| carried by the similarly shaped upwardly opening mouth of a stationary conduit 52 The latter conduit is mounted on the top plate ll of casing 9 and extends across the top and down the side thereof to connect to the inlet chamber 24 of th whirl chamber l2.

It is undesirable that the filter-cleanin nozmeager- 52.

a": zle; 46.

speed. of: rotation of the fanzorfmotdr: shaft: 26'' and accordingly speed reducingi means are provided .toenable the motorito drive the nozzlebut at a reducedtspeedr These? means, includingai provided" with: a. slot lik'e opening 58 adjacent worm 5 5 and extended through this opening and into. engagement with theworm '56 is a gear'59 carriedi'by a transverse horizontal jack shaft'fi'l' bearings 63 which is itself rotatably mounted in carried by brackets 62' supportedfrom the top wall of the housing-51; Shaft't i itself carries a worm 64 at a poin-t'spaeed from its gear 59 and this worm in turn meshes with a gear 66 carried by a second and vertical jack shaft? 67. Shaft Gl'is rotatably mounted "in bearings 68carrie'd in theupperandlower walls'of housing 5? andiscontinuously-rotated. A gear 69 is fixedly connected to shaft El nearits lower end and transmits the continuous'dri-ving force'from sh'aft fil to .a-large gear H whichcarries a bearing 12 rotatably seating upon the sleeve 49; Gear H is:fixedly"connectedto the conduit-seat 41 of nozzle 4 6 by'means of suitable rivets-13; A'coil spring misurrounds the sleeve 49 and exerts a downward force upon the top of the bearing" 12 and .thereby' forces the conduit seat ll against its supporting bearing 5i, a suitableshoulderit being provided-J upon the sleeve 39' to seat the spring;

According: to the present invention means are providedi to. prevent therii'lrush of" air into the cleaner which. occurs when the seal of "the main nozzle Iii .with thesurface undergoing" cleaning is broken; When .this seal is broken an inrush 'of air OCClllS'iWhlCll surges through the initial 'filter, the suction-creating: meansand into the final filter.- It'lservesgno" usefultfunction but instead accomplishes the' objectionable result of imbedding more=firmly into the filter 32'the foreign material l particles which are lodged" thereon. In thisinvention means are :provided which not only prevent thewinrush of no-n-clea'ningair which performs: noxuseful function: but'rwhich also turn the effective? action "of the icleaner suction-creating means to the useful:workiofdrawingan in-- creased volume 'ofcleaningainthrough thefiltercleaning nozzle 46;" v This s construction :will now be described:

Referring. now to :Figures-LZ and: 3 in particular there is seen to be providedabellows-elemerit 8t comprising a rig-idloweri wal1;82; whichis rigidly secured to the peripheral. surfacevof the inner cylindrical casing 19-; and: a:second rigid element 83 whichiis pivotedat its endsupon pivot pins 84 carried bythe lower rigid bottom plate 82; A flexible air-tightaccordion-pleated bellows member 85. is seen to connect" plates 82 and '83, the bellows being of suitable material. which is impervious to air' and which will permit relative movement between =the-plates 82 and83 upon a change in pressure ofthe range which is possible within thesuction. cleaner. At the pivot pins 84 of the plate-:Btare provided coil springs 86 which .at all times exerta'pivotingforce tending to move the platesfltupwardly from the fixed stationary plate 62, that is; to expand the'bellows.

Within theinletvalve chamber'24- between the inlet 23 and the whirl chamber I Z is a valve 88 fixed to a vertical rotatable shaft 89 for swinging movement upona'vertical axis: Valve 88 is movshould ,1 rotate andl move over the i surface. of theafinali filtert 32 Fiat. aespeed. approaching. the:-

6. able between twoz positions; that shownaini full and dottedlinesrin: Figure 2. In the full line position. of' the. valve' 88 as illustrated in Figure 1 both: the conduit 52 and the inlet 23 are fully opened to the whirl chamber l2 and-the suction present therein; created by the'suction creating fanunit, is effective to draw air through both the filter-cleaningnozzle itand through the maincleaning nozzle It: The main volume of air will, of course; be drawn through the main nozzle It; In the dotted line position of thevalve iHFlgllT2j the closed-port position, the forward curved wall thereof has swung into closin relationship to: the inlet'port 23 and the fiowof' air therethrough isi cut off with the exception of a small leakage flow which is permitted through the'leakage port 9| in the valve. This leakage is necessary in order that, when the nozzler i6 is again sealed with a working surface, suction within the inlet 23 andattach'ed hose. 5 and nozzle It toeifect a reduction in pressure;

- into the whirl chamber.

'in-let i8- and'is exhausted Connecting the bellows 8i and the inlet 23 in order that'the pressure in the latter can be effective within the former, is an air conduit 92 clearly shown'in" Figures 1 of this conduit insures that the pressure which exists within the inlet'by virtue of its connection to the Whirl chamber I 2- and as controlled by the valve'fltl will atallitimesbe felt within the bellows iii. An increase in pressure in inlet 23 re-- sults in aninoreasedpressure within the bellows and that element expands, the pressure being aided and assisted by the action of the coil springs 83 at the pivot axes 84; The presence of a reducedpressure in the inlet 23 places a reduced pressure within the bellows and causes that member to contract against the action of the springs.

To transmit the movement of the upper plate $3" of the bellows under the variations in inlet pressure there is provided a toggle 94 whichis pivotally mounted at its center supportedfrom the underside of the inlet chamber 24. Toggle 94 1s suitably connected, as by a pin and slot connection, to a bracket 9'! upon the top p1ate83'of bellows 8i and at its upper end is formed'with a'slot 93 through which extends the lower right-angled end of the valve-carrying shaft 89. The relationship such that the upward and downward movement of the top plate 83 of bellows 8| causes the toggle $4 to pivot upon a horizontal axis and efiects the rotation of the valve-carrying shaft 89 about a vertical axis, the lower right-angled end of the shaft 89 sliding within the toggle slot 98.

The operation of the invention is as follows: The machine having been placed in operation by virtue of the operator closing the manually operable switch 42 the rotation of the cleaner motor Zil'effects the rotation of the shaft 25. The suction-creating fans 26 and 2? carried by the shaft 28 cause a reduced pressure withinthe whirl chamber iZand air is drawn into the main cleaning nozzle it, through the dusting tool hose 5, through the inlet 25;, valve chamber 24 and With the nozzle passing over a surface covering to be cleaned foreign material removed by the air stream is brought into the whirl chamber where practically all ofthe foreign material i separated from the air and drops into the dirt pan 4 positioned below the transverse plate iii. The cleaned air enters the fan unit i3 via the centrallylocated into the final filter and 2. The presence to a bracket 93 chamber 3! from which it escapes through the final filter 32 into the discharge chamber 3'3. From the latter chamber the air, now entirely clean, escapes into the motor hood 6 via the ports 38 in the motor 29. From the interior of the motor hood the air passes to the ambient atmosphere through the exhaust port 39. Incidentally, should the operator desire to use the machine as a blower, the dusting tool hose would be attached to this port 39 rather than to the inlet 23.

At the same time that the main flow of cleaning air i being drawn through the nozzle It and dusting tool hose 5 into the inlet 23, a relatively limited flow of air is also taking place through the conduit 52, conduit 4'! and the filter-cleaning nozzle 46. This nozzle moves in contact with the cylindrical filter 32 under the actuation of the power-transmitting and speed-reducing mechanism within the housing 51 and the air therethrough, which of course passes through the filter 32 in the reverse direction to the main air stream, functions to remove the foreign material which has escaped from the initial dirt separator 52 and which has passed into the final separator 31 to be collected on the filter 32. While the flow of air through the nozzle 46 during the cleaning operation of the cleaner is smaller than the flow of air through the main nozzle, yet it is effective to perform cleaning upon the filter 3.2 and it being possible to apportion the flow of air between the two nozzles by the design of the air passageways leading thereto and by the size of the mouths or slots at the nozzle ends.

So long as the operator continues to perform the cleaning function with the main nozzle 53 in sealing contact with the surface undergoing cleaning, the action will be as described and both nozzle will perform their cleaning functions. Should the operator, however, lift the main nozzle iii from the surface thereby breaking the seal of the nozzle mouth with the surface undergoing cleaning and permitting the inrush of a large volume of air which is performing no useful cleaning function, there will immediately result an increase in the pressure which is present within the inlet 23, and this increase in pressure will be immediately effective within the bellow 3| which will expand. The expansion of the bellows with the upward movement of the rigid plate 83 at the top thereof causes, through the toggle mechanism 94, the valve 88 to move to its position in which it closes the inlet port 23. The entire flow of air through the inlet port 23 is not stopped, however, the leakage port 9! in the valve 88 permitting a sufficient flow of air such that should the nozzle it] again seal with a surface covering, the pressure within the inlet 23 will again be reduced, the pressure within the bellows Bl will be reduced, and that bellows will collapse and thereupon return the valve 88 to its original position in which the main flow is through the main nozzle as described above.

With the valve 88 in the port-closing position, however, substantially the entire air-moving power of the suction-creating fan unit is effective to draw air through the conduit 52 leading to the filter-cleaning nozzle 45 and so long as this condition continues a greatly increased volume of air and a greatly increased suction is present within the nozzle and the cleaning ef- .feotiveness of the nozzle 46 is greatly increased. The closure of the valve 88 with respect to the inlet port 23 to avoid an increased and nonworking flow of air therethrough, results not only in increased cleaning effectiveness for the filtercleaning nozzle 46 but additionally accomplishes a second and important function. Were the increased volume of air permitted to enter the whirl chamber l2 and to pass through the suctioncreating unit into the final filter chamber 3i and escape therefrom through the filter 32, the result would be that the force of this air moving through the filter would drive the collected foreign material more firmly into the filter, resulting in increased back pressure of that element and a greater diificulty in the cleaning. The operation of the valve, therefore, has accomplished two useful functions, and a device is provided in which useful filter-cleaning action is provided at all times which action increases to maximum effectiveness when the main cleaning nozzle is performing no useful work.

I claim:

1. In a suction cleaner, an initial separator having an inlet port, a suction-creating fan unit to draw air through said initial dirt separator, a motor to drive said fan unit, a final dirt separator to receive air exhausted from said. fan unit, a dirt-removing element in said final dirt separator, air-conducting means'connecting said element to said initial separator to draw air through said element at all times during normal surface cleaning operation, a valve to close said inlet port, and pressure-operated means to close said port upon a predetermined increase in the pressure at said port.

2. In a suction cleaner, a manually movable nozzle adapted to contact a surface undergoing cleaning, an initial separator having an inlet connected to said nozzle, a suction-creating fan unit to draw air through said initial dirt separator, a motor to drive said fan unit, a final dirt separator to receive air exhausted from said fan unit, a dirt-removing element in said final dirt separator, means to provide a continuous flow of air from said element to said initial separator during cleaner surface-cleaning operation and with air flowing from said nozzle to said initial separator, and means to increase the flow of air from said element and to decrease the fiow of air from said nozzle to said initial separator.

3. In a suction cleaner, an initial separator having an inlet, a suction-creating fan unit to draw air through said initial dirt separator, a motor to drive said fan unit, a final dirt separator to receive air exhausted from said fan unit, a dirt-removing element in said final dirt separator, an air conduit connecting said element directly to said initial separator to convey air thereto at all times during normal surface cleaner operation, a valve to close partially said inlet to said initial separator to reduce materially the fiow of air therethrough and thereby increase the flow of air through said air conduit, and pressure-operated means connected to said inlet to close said valve upon a predetermined increase in the pressure in said inlet.

4. In a suction cleaner, an initial separator having an inlet, a suction-creating fan unit to draw air through said initial dirt separator, a motor to drive said fan unit, a final dirt separator including a filter to receive air exhausted from said fan unit, a movable cleaning nozzle for said final filter, air-conducting means connecting said nozzle to said initial separator to draw air through said nozzle at all times during the normal surface cleaning operation, power-transmitting mean connecting said nozzle to said motor to actuate the latter at all times during cleaner operation, a valve to reduce the flow of air through said inlet and to increase the flow of air through said movable cleaning nozzle, and pressure-operated means reduce the flow of air through said inlet upon a predetermined increase in the flow of air through said inlet. i

5. In a suction cleaner, a main cleaning nozzle through which cleaning air enters at a rate variable with the contact of the nozzle with a surface being cleaned, an initial dirt separator connected to said nozzle, a final dirt separator, "a second cleaning nozzle for said final separator, air-conducting means to conduct air from said second nozzle continuously during normal surface cleaning operation, suction-creating means to move air through said nozzles, air-conducting means and said separators, valve means to control the flow of air through said nozzles, pressure-operated means to determine the flow of air through said main nozzle, and means connecting said pressure-operated means to said valve means to move the latter to reduce the flow of air through the main nozzle and to increase the flow of air through the second nozzle upon the flow of air through said main nozzle exceeding a predetermined rate.

6. In a suction cleaner, a surface-cleaning nozzle of the type through which the flow of cleaning air varies with the contact thereof with the surface being cleaned, an initial dirt separator connected to said nozzle, suction-creating means connected to said initial separator to draw air therethrough, a final dirt separator connected to said suction-creating means to receive air exto move said valve to hausted therefrom, a separator-cleaning nozzle for said final dirt separator, air-conducting means at all times connecting said separatorcleaning nozzle to said initial dirt separator, valve means controlling the flow of air from said nozzles into said initial separator and arranged to vary the air flow through said surface-cleaning nozzle from a maximum to a minimum at which air actually flows'and at the same time to vary the air flow through said separator-cleaning nozzle to a maximum, and pressure-responsive means exposed to a point of air fiow in said cleaner to actuate said valve means to reduce the flow of air through said surface-cleaning nozzle to said minimum upon the flow of air therethrough exceeding said maximum by a pre; determined amount.

7. In a suction cleaner, an inlet adapted to receive a dusting tool unit, an initial separator connected to said inlet, a suction-creating unit to draw air through said inlet and said initial dirt separator, a motor to drive said suctioncreating unit, a final dirt separator to receive air exhausted from said suction-creating means, a dirt-removing element in said final dirt separator, means to provide a continuous flow of air from said element to said initial separator during the cleaning operation of the cleaner and while air enters said inlet from a dusting tool unit, and means to vary inversely the flow of air through said inlet from a dusting toolunit and through said means to provide a continuous flow of air from said dirt-removing element to said initial separator.

DONALD G. SMELLIE. 

